Beach Reads for Spring Break 2026
Beach reads are one of my favorite book categories. There is nothing better than lying in the sun with a good 300-400 page book, knowing that you have nothing to worry about other than reapplying sunscreen. Plus, spring break is the perfect time to catch up on a few books that are heading to the big screen sooner rather than later… While we may not all be heading to the beach for spring break this year, that doesn’t mean we can’t tap into the spirit. Let me leave you with some spring break, vacation-style, beach reads to transport you to a more relaxed state of mind.
Every SUmmer After
I fell prey to the Carley Fortune trap on my last vacation, so I can say with full confidence that you will breeze through her work in a short span of time. Every Summer After follows the timeline of two kids as they grow up going to a lake house together, paralleled by their adult timeline as they are thrust together after not seeing each other for 12 years. Amazon Prime is releasing a series titled Every Year After in the very near future (it’s expected in 2026), inspired by Carley Fortune’s debut novel.
One Golden SUmmer
Now, on to my favorite beach read in a very long time. Not only does One Golden Summer have an absolutely mouthwateringly beautiful cover, but it also has one of the sweetest and most heartfelt romcom storylines. One Golden Summer is set in the same world as Every Summer After and is meant to be read second, as it follows a side character. If there is one book from this list that I would beg you to read, it’s this one. Alice is a baddie.
Malibu Rising
If you’re in the mood for more of a beachside family drama, allow me to point you towards Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The story follows the four Riva siblings over a 24-hour time span at their annual end-of-summer party. Each sibling holds their own trauma and secrets, and when they all come crashing together on the same night, someone is bound to get burned.
The deal
Telling you I cannot wait for this book to be released as an Amazon Prime show in May would be a severe understatement. The Deal by Elle Kennedy is the first book in the hockey romance Off-Campus series. Released back in 2015, this book is my favorite type of trashy romance. It reads like an early 2000s movie and pulled me out of my most recent reading slump. I will warn you that it is addicting, I couldn’t help but read the entire thing in one sitting (oops).
Happy Place
To be completely honest, anything by Emily Henry makes a fantastic beach read. Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, Funny Story, and Beach Read are all fantastic additions to your vacation collection, but I specifically pulled Happy Place for this list because it gave me the most wholesome spring break vibes. When a couple broke up but have to pretend to be together not to ruin their best friends wedding, what could go wrong?
All the Light We Cannot See
Historical fiction girlies, this is for you. This book follows two characters during World War II: a blind French girl and an orphaned German boy thrust into the war. I can’t say I read historical fiction very often, but this book fits the bill of captivating characters during a monumental point in history. If you want a little slower and thought-provoking read, check out All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab is a book I think everyone should read at least once in their life. It reads a little slower simply because there is a lot of context is required to build the story to its full height. Addie LaRue is born to live in the 1700s but strikes a deal to life forever, and as a consequence, she is forgotten by everyone she meets. Every character in this book deserves a gold star, and the sensory detail transports readers to another world entirely. I particularly recommend this book if you are coming off binge-reading a series and need something to slow you down and switch up the vibe after a massive cliffhanger.
Challenge Accepted
Challenge Accepted by Amanda Abram is the first book I read in a 24-hour timespan. It was a book I found on display at the library, and I was intrigued enough to pick it up (don’t sleep on library reads, they are underrated). Emma and Logan are neighbors and longtime enemies, despite their parents being best friends. When Logan cheats his way through a school-wide compatibility test and ruins Emma’s chance of finding a summer romance, he gets roped into helping her and offers to set her up with her long-time crush, and his best friend, Matt. This book introduced me to the feeling of butterflies in the stomach, so I couldn’t recommend it more.
What am I reading this SPring Break?
I have done my best to give you a list of spring break book recommendations based on what I have already read and what I know fits the vibe. But that leaves the question: what am I reading for spring break? For the first time in forever, I am actually going out of town. I will be travelling to Costa Rica for a study abroad opportunity through my university to learn more about soils, crops, and natural resources (yay, environmental science!). Nonetheless, I plan to make use of travel time and any downtime. My current read list for break stands as follows:
- Told You So by Macyi Neeley (shout out to all the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives fans)
- Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
- Variation by Rebecca Yarros
- and The Mistake by Elle Kennedy (followed by the rest of the Off-Campus series)
SPring Break To-DO’s
get a big coffee
soak up the sun
explore nature
read a new book
Whether you’re gearing up for a vacation or a staycation, I hope you have a wonderful time and can take some long-overdue time for self-care and a good book. Just because you’re not at the beach doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some good beach reads 😉
